Portable handheld memory card and methods for use therewith

ABSTRACT

In one embodiment, a portable handheld memory card may include a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port, USB controller circuitry, an input/output (I/O) port, a memory, and decompression circuitry configured to decompress compressed data stored in the memory. The memory card includes a housing storing the memory and exposing the USB port and the I/O port. The USB port and I/O port may be positioned to allow a same card-insertion direction irrespective of whether a host device comprises a mating USB port or a mating I/O port. In another embodiment, the memory card includes decryption circuitry to decrypt encrypted data stored in the memory, a power management unit, a host interface module, and circuitry configured to control read and write operations to the memory. The I/O port may include a Secure Digital port, and the memory may include Flash memory. Other embodiments are provided, and each of the embodiments described herein can be used alone or in combination with one another.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to memory devices, and particularly, to portablehandheld memory cards configured to transfer data over variousinterfaces.

BACKGROUND

Memory devices may be used to expand the memory capacity of electronicdevices. Such electronic devices may include audio players, videoplayers, digital cameras, video cameras, personal digital assistants,cellular phones, and other devices. A memory device, such as a memorycard, may interface with the electronic device using a standardizedformat, such as Secure Digital, CompactFlash, Memory Stick, or otherformats. The memory device may also include other types of interfaces,such as a Universal Serial Bus port, which may be used to connect thememory device to a computer to transfer data, for example. The memorydevice may include Flash memory, magnetic disks, or other types ofnon-volatile media to store data. The data may include audio, video, orother types of data, and the data may be uncompressed or compressed. Thedata may also be encrypted and protected with digital rights management(DRM), which may allow content providers to control the use and transferof the data. DRM technologies include proprietary encryption techniques,subscription models, Microsoft PlaysForSure, Windows Media DRM, JanusDRM, and other DRM technologies.

Existing memory cards have drawbacks that may reduce their usefulness.Encrypted data protected with DRM that is stored on existing memorycards may require authentication such that the data can only be usedwith a specific electronic device. For example, a song protected withDRM may be transferred with a specific audio player to a Secure Digital(SD) memory card. The DRM may restrict playback of the song such thatthe song can only be listened to when the SD memory card is connected tothat specific audio player. Also, accessing or transferring data betweenexisting memory cards and computers may require the use of a card readerconnected to a computer via a USB connection. The card reader maytranslate the data transfer protocol of the memory card interface to thedata transfer protocol of the USB connection. Using such a card readermay be inconvenient and costly. Furthermore, accessing compressed datastored on existing memory cards may require that the connectedelectronic device include decompression capability. For example, playingback a song compressed in the MP3 format that is stored on an existingmemory card may require an audio player with MP3 decompressioncircuitry. Such a player may be expensive and complex.

SUMMARY

The present invention is defined by the following claims, and nothing inthis section should be taken as a limitation on those claims.

By way of introduction, the embodiments described below provide aportable handheld memory card with a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port,USB controller circuitry, an input/output (I/O) port, a memory, anddecompression circuitry configured to decompress compressed data storedin the memory. In one embodiment, the memory card includes a housingstoring the memory and exposing the USB port and the I/O port. The USBport and I/O port may be positioned to allow a same card-insertiondirection irrespective of whether a host device comprises a mating USBport or a mating I/O port. In another embodiment, the memory cardincludes decryption circuitry to decrypt encrypted data stored in thememory, a power management unit, a host interface module, and circuitryconfigured to control read and write operations to the memory. The I/Oport may comprise a Secure Digital port, and the memory may compriseFlash memory.

Each of the embodiments described herein can be used alone or incombination with one another. The embodiments will now be described withreference to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a memory card.

FIG. 2 is a schematic of an exemplary pinout of an embodiment of amemory card.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the memory card of FIG. 1 interfaced with acard reader and a computer, via a Universal Serial Bus port.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the memory card of FIG. 1 interfaced withan audio player via a Secure Digital port.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the memory card of FIG. 1 interfaced withan electronic device via a Universal Serial Bus port.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of an embodiment of thememory card.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosure can be better understood with reference to the followingdrawings and description. The components in the figures are notnecessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustratingthe principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, likereferenced numerals designate corresponding parts or elements throughoutthe different views.

By way of overview, the embodiments described herein are related toportable handheld memory cards with a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port,USB controller circuitry, an input/output (I/O) port, a memory, anddecompression circuitry configured to decompress compressed data storedin the memory. The memory card may include a housing storing the memoryand exposing the USB port and the I/O port. The USB port and I/O portmay be positioned to allow a same card-insertion direction irrespectiveof whether a host device comprises a mating USB port or a mating I/Oport. The memory card may include decryption circuitry to decryptencrypted data stored in the memory, a power management unit, a hostinterface module, and circuitry configured to control read and writeoperations to the memory. The I/O port may comprise a Secure Digitalport, and the memory may comprise Flash memory.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a memory card 100. Thememory card 100 may include a USB port 102, a Secure Digital (SD) port104, a USB controller circuit 106, a memory 108, a decryption circuit110, a decompression circuit 112, a host interface circuit 114, a powermanagement unit 116, and a read/write controller 118. More or fewercomponents may be included in the memory card 100. The memory card 100may store and provide data that may be encrypted, unencrypted,compressed, and/or uncompressed. For example, the memory card 100 maystore encrypted content protected with digital rights management (DRM).Examples of encrypted content include data protected using proprietaryencryption techniques, subscription models, Microsoft PlaysForSure,Windows Media DRM, Janus DRM, and other protection techniques. Thememory card 100 may communicate via the USB port 102 or the SecureDigital port 104 to transfer data between the memory card 100 andexternal devices. The encrypted content may be transferred between thememory card 100 and a computer directly via the USB port 102. Inaddition, the encrypted content may be played back from the memory card100 independent of the device it is connected to, such thatauthorization for use of the encrypted content takes place in the memorycard 100. The memory card 100 may also decompress compressed data withthe decompression circuit 112 so that a connected device does not needto include potentially costly and complex decompression circuitry.Examples of compressed data include MP3 audio data, and other types oflossy and lossless compressed data.

The memory 108 in the memory card 100 may include Flash memory, magneticdisks, or other suitable types of non-volatile memory. The memory 108may store and provide encrypted, unencrypted, compressed, uncompressed,and other types of data. Data flow to and from the memory 108 may bemanaged by the read/write controller 118. The read/write controller 118may be in communication with the USB controller 106 and the hostinterface 114 to control and coordinate read and write operationsbetween the USB port 102 and Secure Digital port 104, respectively, andthe memory 108. The read/write controller 118 may also perform errorcorrection, wear leveling, address decoding, and other memory-relatedfunctions.

Data may be transferred between the memory 108 and an external devicedirectly via the USB port 102. The USB port 102 may include serial datalines D+ and D− and a bus voltage Vbus, as shown in FIG. 1. The USB port102 may be implemented with a standard USB connector, such as A-type,B-type, mini USB, and micro USB, and may include a USB connector such ason a Secure Digital Plus memory card. The USB port 102 may also beimplemented using additional pins included on an existing memory card.The memory card housing may be configured such that the card may beinserted in the same direction irrespective of whether a host deviceincludes a mating USB port or a mating Secure Digital port, as describedbelow.

In the memory card 100, the data lines D+ and D− may be in communicationwith the USB controller 106, such that data transferred via the USB port102 is translated to and from the USB protocol. Other components, suchas a buffer, logic, or other circuitry may process the data between theUSB port 102 and the memory 108. The USB controller 106 may allow thememory card 100 to be connected to a host USB device (not shown) suchthat data may be transferred via the USB port 102 and data lines D+ andD− using the USB protocol. A host USB device may include a computer, forexample. The transferred data may be encrypted, unencrypted, compressed,and/or uncompressed data. If the data is encrypted, the data may betransferred such that use of the data is not restricted to anyparticular electronic device. In addition, the bus voltage Vbus may bein communication with the power management unit 116. The bus voltageVbus may be approximately 5V, as specified in the USB standard, and maybe converted by the power management unit 116 to a suitable voltage foruse by components of the memory card 100.

The memory card 100 may also communicate with external devices using aninput/output (I/O) port, such as the SD port 104. For example, the SDport 104 may transfer a pulse code modulated (PCM) signal containingmusic to an external audio player. The SD port 104 may include a voltageVdd, a command line CMD, a clock line CLK, and a data bus DATA, all ofwhich may be in communication with the host interface circuit 114. Thehost interface circuit 114 may translate data to and from the SDprotocol to be transferred via the SD port 104, in particular, via thecommand line CMD, the clock line CLK, and the data bus DATA. The memorycard 100 may operate in one of the transfer modes supported by the SDprotocol: serial peripheral interface (SPI), one-bit SD mode, orfour-bit SD mode. The voltage Vdd may be used by the host interfacecircuit 114 to translate the data to and from the SD protocol over theSD port 104. The voltage Vdd may also be in communication with the powermanagement unit 116.

Data in the memory 108 that is accessed and transmitted over the SD port104 may be encrypted, unencrypted, compressed, and/or uncompressed. Ifthe data is uncompressed and unencrypted, the data may be read directlyfrom the memory 108 to the host interface circuit 114 for output on theSD port 104. If the data is uncompressed and encrypted, the data may beread from the memory 108 to the decryption circuit 110. The decryptioncircuit 110 may then decrypt the data and transfer the data to the hostinterface circuit 114 for output on the SD port 104. If the data iscompressed and unencrypted, the data may be read from the memory 108 tothe decompression circuit 112. The decompression circuit 112 maydecompress the data to a pulse code modulated (PCM) signal, which maythen be transferred to the host interface circuit 114 to be transmittedover the SD port 104. Finally, if the data is compressed and encrypted,the data may be read from the memory 108 to the decryption circuit 110.The decryption circuit 110 may decrypt the data, and then transfer thedecrypted compressed data to the decompression circuit 112. Thedecompression circuit 112 may decompress the decrypted compressed datato a PCM signal, and transfer the PCM signal to the host interfacecircuit 114 to be transmitted over the SD port 104.

FIG. 2 is a schematic of an exemplary pinout of an embodiment of amemory card 200. The memory card 200 may have a physical form factor andhousing that complies with the Secure Digital standard, as shown in FIG.2 with a view of the front 202 and the rear 204 of the memory card 200.The memory card 200 may include any memory capacity and may store musicor any other type of data. The rear 204 of the memory card 200 mayinclude pins as specified by the Secure Digital standard. For example,the SD port shown in FIG. 2 is for the four-bit SD transfer mode,including pins for the voltage Vdd, the command line CMD, the clock lineCLK, and the data bus DATA. The SD port of the memory card 200 may beassigned different functions if a different SD transfer mode is used,such as serial peripheral interface (SPI) or one-bit SD mode. The memorycard 200 is configured such that it may be inserted in a certaindirection and orientation so that the SD port interfaces with a matingSD port of a host device. In particular, the housing of the memory card200 exposes the SD port. When the memory card 200 is inserted into ahost device, the mating SD port of the host device is electricallyconnected to the SD port of the memory card 200.

The memory card 200 may also include additional pins as specified by theUSB standard. For example, the USB port shown in FIG. 2 includes serialdata pins D+ and D−. As described above, the memory card 200 isconfigured to be inserted in a certain direction and orientation so thatthe SD port interfaces with a mating SD port of a host device. When thememory card 200 is inserted in this fashion, the USB port may alsointerface with a mating USB port of the host device. In particular, thehousing of the memory card 200 exposes the USB port. When the memorycard 200 is inserted into a host device, the mating USB port of the hostdevice is electrically connected to the USB port of the memory card 200.Therefore, when the memory card 200 is inserted into a host device, theSD port and/or the USB port of the memory card 200 may be electricallyconnected to a mating SD port and/or a mating USB port of the hostdevice, respectively. The host device may include a mating SD port, amating USB port, and/or other types of mating ports.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the memory card 100 of FIG. 1 interfacedwith a card reader 302 and a computer 304, via a Universal Serial Busport 102. In FIG. 3, data may be transferred between the computer 304and the memory card 100 using the USB protocol, and using the cardreader 302 as a host device. A memory card 100 may be inserted in acertain direction and orientation into the card reader 302 such that theSD port 104 would interface with a mating SD port. However, in FIG. 3,the card reader 302 does not include a mating SD port. Instead, the USBport 102 of the memory card 100 may connect to a mating USB port 308 ofthe card reader 302. The USB port 102 may include the USB pins D+, D−,and Vbus. The computer 304 may include a USB host interface 306 totranslate data to and from the USB protocol. The computer 304 may beconnected to the card reader 302 via a standard USB connector, such asA-type, B-type, mini USB, and micro USB.

The memory card 100 may be connected to the card reader 302 and transferdata over the USB port 102 using the USB protocol, instead of using theSD port 104. When the memory card 100 is inserted into the card reader302, there may be no electrical connection to the SD port 104 of thememory card 100 and only an electrical connection to the USB port 102 ofthe memory card 100 via the mating USB port 308 of the card reader 302.Because the memory card 100 may include the USB controller 106, the cardreader 302 does not need to translate data to and from the USB protocol.Instead, the USB controller 106 on the memory card 100 translates datato and from the USB protocol. Data may be transferred between the USBport 102 of the memory card 100 and the USB host interface 306 of thecomputer 304, via the mating USB port 308 of the card reader 302.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the memory card 100 of FIG. 1 interfacedwith an audio player 402 via a Secure Digital port 104. In FIG. 4, datamay be transferred between the audio player 402 and the memory card 100using the SD protocol, using the pins CMD, CLK, DATA, and Vdd. Thememory card 100 may be inserted in a certain direction and orientationinto the audio player 402 such that the SD port 104 interfaces with amating SD port 404 of the audio player 402. The mating SD port 404 maybe electrically connected to the SD port 104 of the memory card 100. Inthis case, the USB port 102 of the memory card 100 is not electricallyconnected.

As described above, the data transferred between the audio player 402and the memory card 100 may include signals generated by the decryptioncircuit 110 and the decompression circuit 112. For example, a PCM signalmay be generated by the decryption circuit 110 and/or the decompressioncircuit 112, and be output on the SD port 104. The mating SD port 404 ofthe audio player 402 may receive the PCM signal from the memory card100. The digital PCM signal may be converted to an analog signal foraudio playback using a digital-to-analog converter or other suitablecircuitry. The audio player 402 may also include other components suchas a display for showing a title, artist, album, or other information.However, the audio player 402 does not need to include decompression ordecryption circuitry because the memory card 100 may already include thedecryption circuit 110 and the decompression circuit 112.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the memory card 100 of FIG. 1 interfacedwith an electronic device 502 via a Universal Serial Bus port 102. InFIG. 5, data may be transferred between the electronic device 502 andthe memory card 100 using the USB protocol. The electronic device 502may include a mating USB port 504 which may be directly connected to theUSB port 102 via a standard USB connector, such as A-type, B-type, miniUSB, and micro USB. The memory card 100 may include a Secure DigitalPlus card, a USB flash drive, or other suitable memory device that canconnect to the electronic device 502 via the USB port 102. The USB port102, including USB pins D+, D−, and Vbus, may be exposed by the housingof the memory card 100. The memory card 100 may be configured to beinserted in a certain direction and orientation so that the SD port 104would interface with a mating SD port. However, in FIG. 5, theelectronic device 502 does not include a mating SD port. Instead, theUSB port 102 of the memory card 100 may connect to a mating USB port 504of the electronic device 502. Data may be transferred between the USBport 102 of the memory card 100 and the mating USB port 504 of theelectronic device 502.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method 600 of an embodiment of thememory card 100. In FIG. 6, encrypted data may be provided in Act 602.The encrypted data may be stored in the memory 108, such as a flashmemory, magnetic disks, or other suitable non-volatile storage medium.In Act 604, it is determined whether the encrypted data is beingtransferred via the USB port or is being played back. If the encrypteddata is being transferred via the USB port, the method 600 continues toAct 606. In Act 606, the encrypted data may be converted to aUSB-compliant signal using, for example, the USB controller circuit 106.In Act 608, the USB-compliant signal may be transmitted on the USB port102. The USB port 102 may include D+, D−, and Vbus pins, and thetransmission may be at any data rate supported by the USB standard,including low speed (1.5 Mbit/s), full speed (12 Mbit/s), and hi-speed(480 Mbit/s). Once the encrypted data is transmitted, the method 600 iscomplete.

If it is determined that the encrypted data is being played back in Act604, the method 600 continues to Act 610. In Act 610, the method 600checks if the encrypted data contains content based on a subscriptionmodel. Subscription content may include data that is usable only when asubscriber pays a monthly fee, for example, and expires if thesubscription is not maintained. If the encrypted data includessubscription content, the method 600 continues to Act 612 to compare thecurrent date and time to the expiration date and time of the encrypteddata. The current date and time may be obtained from an external deviceconnected to the memory card 100. The expiration date and time of theencrypted data may be stored in the memory 108 on the memory card 100,and may be updated when the encrypted data is initially stored on thememory card 100 and/or when the subscription for the encrypted data isextended. The subscription content may be expired, for example, if thecurrent date and time is later than the expiration date and time. If thecontent is expired in Act 614, then the method 600 is complete. If thesubscription content is not expired, for example, when the current dateand time is not later than the expiration date and time, then the method600 continues to Act 616. The method 600 also continues to Act 616 fromAct 610 if the encrypted data does not include subscription content.

In Act 616, the encrypted data may be decrypted to decrypted data bysuitable circuitry, such as the decryption circuit 110 described above.The encrypted data may be protected with digital rights management,including data protected using proprietary encryption techniques,subscription models, Microsoft PlaysForSure, Windows Media DRM, JanusDRM, and other protection techniques. In Act 618, the method 600determines whether the decrypted data is compressed. If the decrypteddata is not compressed, the method 600 may continue to Act 620, wherepulse code modulated (PCM) data may be transmitted on an I/O port, suchas the Secure Digital port 104. The PCM data may be generated by thehost interface circuit 114 from the decrypted data. On the other hand,if the decrypted data is compressed, then the method 600 continues toAct 622 to decompress the decrypted data with the decompression circuit112. The data may be compressed using the MP3 audio format, or withother forms of lossy and lossless compression. The decompression in Act622 may generate PCM data, which may be transmitted on the I/O port inAct 620, such as on the Secure Digital port 104. Once the PCM data istransmitted, the method 600 is complete.

All of the discussion above, regardless of the particular implementationbeing described, is exemplary in nature, rather than limiting. Althoughspecific components of the portable handheld memory card are described,methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with theportable handheld memory card may include additional or differentcomponents. For example, components of the portable handheld memory cardmay be implemented by one or more of: control logic, hardware, amicroprocessor, microcontroller, application specific integrated circuit(ASIC), discrete logic, or a combination of circuits and/or logic.Further, although selected aspects, features, or components of theimplementations are depicted as hardware or software, all or part of thesystems and methods consistent with the portable handheld memory cardmay be stored on, distributed across, or read from machine-readablemedia, for example, secondary storage devices such as hard disks, floppydisks, and CD-ROMs; a signal received from a network; or other forms ofROM or RAM either currently known or later developed. Any act orcombination of acts may be stored as instructions in computer readablestorage medium. Memories may be DRAM, SRAM, Flash or any other type ofmemory. Programs may be parts of a single program, separate programs, ordistributed across several memories and processors.

The processing capability of the portable handheld memory card may bedistributed among multiple system components, such as among multipleprocessors and memories, optionally including multiple distributedprocessing systems. Parameters, databases, and other data structures maybe separately stored and managed, may be incorporated into a singlememory or database, may be logically and physically organized in manydifferent ways, and may implemented in many ways, including datastructures such as linked lists, hash tables, or implicit storagemechanisms. Programs and rule sets may be parts of a single program orrule set, separate programs or rule sets, or distributed across severalmemories and processors.

It is intended that the foregoing detailed description be understood asan illustration of selected forms that the invention can take and not asa definition of the invention. It is only the following claims,including all equivalents, that are intended to define the scope of thisinvention.

1. A portable handheld memory card comprising: a Universal Serial Bus(USB) port comprising a first set of pins; USB controller circuitryelectrically connected with the first set of pins of the USB port; aninput/output (I/O) port comprising a second set of pins; I/O controllercircuitry electrically connected with the second set of pins of the I/Oport; a memory in communication with the USB port and the I/O port; anda housing storing the memory and exposing the USB port and the I/O port;wherein the USB port and the I/O port are positioned on a same end toallow a same card-insertion direction irrespective of whether a hostdevice comprises a mating USB port or a mating I/O port; and wherein theUSB port and the I/O port are positioned such that when the I/O port iselectrically connected with the host device, at least one of the firstset of pins of the USB port is not electrically connected to the hostdevice, and when the USB port is electrically connected to the hostdevice, at least one of the second set of pins of the I/O port is notelectrically connected to the host device.
 2. The portable handheldmemory card of claim 1 further comprising: decryption circuitry incommunication with the memory and configured to decrypt encrypted datastored in the memory.
 3. The portable handheld memory card of claim 1further comprising: decompression circuitry configured to decompresscompressed data stored in the memory.
 4. The portable handheld memorycard of claim 1 further comprising: a power management unit incommunication with the USB controller circuitry.
 5. The portablehandheld memory card of claim 1 further comprising: a host interfacemodule in communication with the I/O port.
 6. The portable handheldmemory card of claim 1 further comprising: circuitry configured tocontrol read and write operations to the memory.
 7. The portablehandheld memory card of claim 1, wherein the I/O port comprises a SecureDigital port.
 8. The portable handheld memory card of claim 1, whereinthe memory comprises Flash memory.
 9. A method comprising: with aportable handheld card comprising a Universal Serial Bus (USB) portcomprising a first set of pins; USB controller circuitry electricallyconnected with the first set of pins of the USB port; an input/output(I/O) port comprising a second set of pins; I/O controller circuitryelectrically connected with the second set of pins of the I/O port; amemory in communication with the USB port and the I/O port; and ahousing storing the memory and exposing the USB port and the I/O port,wherein the USB port and the I/O port are positioned to allow a samecard-insertion direction irrespective of whether a host device comprisesa mating USB port or a mating I/O port and wherein the USB port and theI/O port are positioned such that when the I/O port is electricallyconnected with the host device, at least one of the first set of pins ofthe USB port is not electrically connected to the host device, and whenthe USB port is electrically connected to the host device, at least oneof the second set of pins of the I/O port is not electrically connectedto the host device: reading compressed data from the memorydecompressing the compressed data to decompressed data; transmitting thedecompressed data on the I/O port; converting the compressed data tofirst converted data for transmission on the USB port; and transmittingthe first converted data on the USB port.
 10. The method of claim 9further comprising: reading encrypted data from the memory; decryptingthe encrypted data to decrypted data; and transmitting the decrypteddata on the I/O port.
 11. The method of claim 9 further comprising:converting a first voltage of the USB port to a second voltage of theportable handheld memory card.
 12. The method of claim 9 furthercomprising: converting the decompressed data to second converted datafor transmission on the I/O port; and transmitting the second converteddata on the I/O port.
 13. The method of claim 9 further comprising:controlling reading and writing to the memory.
 14. The method of claim9, wherein the I/O port comprises a Secure Digital port.
 15. The methodof claim 9, wherein the memory comprises Flash memory.
 16. A methodcomprising: with a portable handheld card comprising a Universal SerialBus (USB) port comprising a first set of pins; USB controller circuitryelectrically connected with the first set of pins of the USB port; aninput/output (I/O) port comprising a second set of pins; I/O controllercircuitry electrically connected with the second set of pins of the I/Oport; a memory in communication with the USB port and the I/O port; anda housing storing the memory and exposing the USB port and the I/O port,wherein the USB port and the I/O port are positioned to allow a samecard-insertion direction irrespective of whether a host device comprisesa mating USB port or a mating I/O port and wherein the USB port and theI/O port are positioned such that when the I/O port is electricallyconnected with the host device, at least one of the first set of pins ofthe USB port is not electrically connected to the host device, and whenthe USB port is electrically connected to the host device, at least oneof the second set of pins of the I/O port is not electrically connectedto the host device: reading data from the memory; determining whetherthe data is to be transmitted via the USB port or I/O port; andtransmitting the data to the host device via the determined port. 17.The method of claim 16, wherein the data is encrypted data, and whereinthe method further comprises: decrypting the encrypted data to decrypteddata.
 18. The method of claim 16, wherein the data is compressed data,and wherein the method further comprises: decompressing the compresseddata to decompressed data.
 19. The method of claim 18 furthercomprising: converting the decompressed data to second converted datafor transmission.
 20. The method of claim 16, wherein the I/O portcomprises a Secure Digital port.
 21. The method of claim 16, wherein thememory comprises Flash memory.
 22. The method of claim 18 furthercomprising: converting the compressed data to first converted data fortransmission.
 23. The portable handheld memory card of claim 1, whereinat least two pins of the USB port are parallel to at least two pins ofthe I/O port.
 24. The portable handheld memory card of claim 1, whereinlayout for the USB port is different from layout of the I/O port. 25.The portable handheld memory card of claim 24, wherein the I/O port isconfigured for mating with an external port.
 26. The portable handheldmemory card of claim 1, wherein all of the first set of pinselectrically connected with the USB controller circuitry is notelectrically connected to the I/O controller circuitry.
 27. The portablehandheld memory card of claim 1, wherein the USB port comprises multipledata lines; wherein the first set of pins comprise multiple data pinsconnected to the multiple data lines; and wherein all of the multipledata pins are not electrically connected to the I/O controllercircuitry.